(Below are some additional pointers about the film as an exclusive BTC write-up)

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Keeping in mind that specific era of the late 70s, GHAR can easily be called a project much ahead of its times coming up with such a bold subject and a thoughtful conclusion when ‘The Angry Young Man’ was the most followed and successful concept in our Hindi films. The parallel cinema movement was in full swing too, but GHAR thankfully came as one rare daring attempt that neither was interested in presenting its storyline in any dark, off-beat tone, nor was willing to take some unfair advantage of its mature subject bowing down to the routine requirement of a commercial Hindi film. It tried to find the middle path and remained successful in its sincere attempt too with praises received both from the critics as well as the thinking audience becoming a significant path-breaking film.

Ironically, GHAR at present is more remembered for its songs instead of the so relevant theme as a landmark film to be very honest. Many of the youngsters would have surely heard the songs but not seen the film, onus for which is on the current trend that largely remains interested in the new mega releases and their crores earned, instead of rediscovering the classics making them essentially reach the present young generation.

Adding to the ironies related with the film, until the internet revolution, many widely considered GHAR to be a Gulzar film, mainly due to its hugely famous songs with the Gulzarish touch and RDB being there too. As per a few unconfirmed reports Gulzar did venture in for a while when the director met an accident during the film’s making. But whether it’s true or not, one cannot take the credit away from the director Manik Chatterjee as GHAR simply remains his film from the very first frame to the last without any slightest of doubt. Having said that, it certainly enhances the product, when you have names like Dinesh Thakur, R. D. Burman, Gulzar and Waman Bhonsle-Gurudutt Shirali (the editors) as a part of your exceptional team bringing in their invaluable expert inputs.

For instance, just watch out for the sequence where Rekha gets abducted and Vinod Mehra seriously injured on a lonely road at night. Without going into any extreme, the director and his editors (the award winning Waman-Guru) force you to feel the anger and helplessness with fast intercuts, sound and use of handheld camera. Further without having any clear visuals of the gang-rape they convey it all through extreme close-ups, eyes and expressions of a suffering, fearful lady and her puzzled husband fighting hard to get out of his own guilt.

In short, if you haven’t seen GHAR yet and just assume that you have somehow seen it, because of an over familiarity with its soundtrack being a die-hard RDB or Gulzar fan, then do yourself a favour and watch the film, since GHAR is much more than its great compositions and lyrics giving them their due respect.

However revealing a shocking news, just a couple of years back renowned journalist-filmmaker Khalid Mohamed wrote an important article on the lost gems of Indian Cinema, in which he informed that that the original print of GHAR has also been lost now forever among many other films. And this is nothing short of a loud scary alarm since here we are talking about a film made in the late 70s and not a venture from the early 40s or 50s.

In addition, just recently when I ordered a DVD of the film released by ULTRA, I found ‘Winner of 2 Filmfare Awards” printed on the top mentioning BEST STORY and BEST ACTRESS in bold capital letters (as shared in the picture). Whereas in reality the film won only the BEST STORY award and Rekha got her first nomination in the reputed BEST ACTRESS category losing it to Nutan in the year 1979.

Putting it differently, there is a lot that needs to be done both in terms of preserving and presenting such great films to our next generation in the right form. But that can only be possible if cinema is given equal importance as the cultural heritage of our country and nothing less than that.

A warm welcome

A warm welcome to all friends with a loving invitation to read my personal expressions on movies, music, poetry and life.

Music, Movies and Books are like EARS and EYES to me, and if you also feel the same, then you are sure going to find many interesting articles in the different sections of the site worth your precious time and attention. If possible, do share your valuable comments and suggestions too, as they would be my guide for all the future projects and write-ups continuing on the path of learning.

Have a great day and enjoy the world of movies, music and poetry with BTC.
Cheers!

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